IAM Delta Flight Attendants

Most of us can’t imagine what it would be like to lose the job we love.

But what if the unthinkable happens? What if we are unjustly accused, disciplined or terminated? Who really has our back?

Without union representation, there is no protection, no objective way to clear our file and reclaim our wings.

With IAM representation, we will have contractual due process and an expert legal team. A solid contract will state exactly how and when a flight attendant will be returned to the line with all qualifications and pay restored.

If the unthinkable happens, we won’t face management alone. No more “gag orders,” no random probation, no intimidating four-against-one closed door meetings.

Please sign or renew your IAM card today. Click the link below, fill out the online form, and IAM Delta will mail one out to you. Thanks!

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Today is International Civil Aviation Day, which is observed annually on December 7. The purpose of the day is to recognize the importance of aviation, especially international air travel, to the social and economic development of the world. It also helps demonstrate the role the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has in promoting safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.

“International Civil Aviation Day celebrates the vital role the airline industry has around the world,” says Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “It is also a day that helps raise awareness of the importance of safety for all airline workers around the world.”

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed International Civil Aviation Day to be December 7 each year, which is the anniversary of the 1944 signing the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

In a demonstration of how unions have responded to international issues in civil aviation, the International Transport Workers Federation organized a meeting of dozens of civil aviation unions from more than 20 countries across the globe this week in Argentina.

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After a years’ long effort, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) today filed for a representation election with the National Mediation Board (NMB) for 5,000 JetBlue Flight Attendants.

“The IAM congratulates the JetBlue Flight Attendants for pursuing their right to take control of their future,” said Transportation GVP Sito Pantoja. “I now encourage you to take the next step and vote yes for our AFL-CIO sister union.”

The nearly four-year campaign showed the foresight and desire of the JetBlue Flight Attendants to have union representation so they can be afforded a say on the job and share in the profits they helped JetBlue earn.

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We should not have to standby until 2019, or longer, for our next pay increase during the most profitable period in Delta’s history.

The IAM Delta campaign today renewed its call for Delta management to announce the 2018 wage increase for flight attendants. In past years, wage increases have been announced much earlier in the year and unfortunately it appears that Delta management is considering no wage increase for 2018.

Delta CEO, Ed Bastian, signaled publicly—while advocating for the Trump Administration’s corporate tax cut plan—that if the massive corporate tax cuts become law, then Delta will have more to give its employees. So, not only do we have to depend on the “good will” of Delta management to attain the wage increases we deserve, we must now also depend on the passage of the corporate tax cut to receive a wage increase. That’s just wrong and devalues the work we do to make Delta the leading US carrier.

Delta’s unionized pilots and dispatchers, however, already have their 2018 wage increase guaranteed in their contract, as do flight attendants and other unionized ground staff at the other major carriers—American, United, Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian—with IAM members at these respective carriers leading the way. These workers do not have to wait and wonder whether they will receive pay, benefit and work rule enhancements. Their contracts guarantee them.

IAM Delta calls on Delta management to immediately increase flight attendant wage rates to the top of the industry, at every step, by at least 14 percent to surpass Southwest flight attendants. We deserve at least that, and we will negotiate more with the IAM.

Sign or renew your a-card now, so we can gain the right to vote for IAM representation, win and negotiate the industry-best contract that we very much deserve.

If you don’t have an a-card handy, please click the link and fill-out the online form and IAM Delta will get one out to you. Thanks!

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We are especially thankful to our flight attendant colleagues, who are flying on this holiday, ensuring our passengers are able to arrive safely and spend this special holiday with their families and friends.

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The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has reaffirmed its support for the organizing campaigns by the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at Delta Air Lines, the third largest carrier in the United States.

Delta has recently ratcheted up its anti-union campaign, so the ITF’s support comes at a critical juncture in IAM’s campaign to organize the carrier’s 23,000 flight attendants and 14,000 fleet service workers, who are seeking union representation and a voice at work.

Mr Cotton told the IAM: “Workers around the globe are prepared to help Delta workers achieve a strong, collective voice and finally bring fairness and security to their jobs.

“The ITF has worked closely with the IAM to organize Delta workers, and they have our full support. Organizing 37,000 workers requires a global initiative and the ITF is helping mobilize union members on every continent where Delta flies.

“Together we will see these campaigns through until Delta workers can sit across the table from management and negotiate the fair contract they deserve.”

IAM General Vice President Sito Pantoja thanked the ITF for standing with the IAM and said its support and dedication of resources was an integral part of the IAM’s campaign.

The IAM’s five-year Delta flight attendant campaign – the largest airline organizing drive in the industry’s history – is making strong progress, despite Delta’s spending thousands of dollars to quash the workers’ right to freedom of association and join a union.

The IAM represented fleet service workers at Northwest Airlines before the carrier merged with Delta. After a bitter, hard-fought representation election, during which the US government cited Delta for numerous violations of labor election rules, the fleet service workers were stripped of their collective bargaining rights.

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Delta failed to accommodate an employee’s disability, ultimately violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and terminating the employee.

The employee was awarded nearly $1m in damages.

Our colleague’s suffering and sad victory in federal court could have been avoided.

With an IAM contract, peer representatives provide support and a fair appeals process. Delta management is held accountable for its actions, and colleagues are not left alone to fight for the job they love.

Although justice has been served for this colleague, countless flight attendants are fired, disciplined, suspended or have their probation extended without proper justification.

Each day we report to work without representation, our career could end due to an unsubstantiated complaint, false accusation or other injustice.

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Please read this awesome response to Allison’s email by a Delta Flight Attendant, IAM activist who forwarded it to the IAM-Delta campaign. For fear of management retaliation, the Delta Flight Attendant asked for her name to be redacted.

Dear Allison,

This is what keeps me up at night.

I’d like you and the entire family to know what keeps me up at night as a Delta flight attendant.

IAM kept awake because you’re firing my friends. Friends and colleagues who adored their careers and DID NOT abuse their PPT. They would give anything to be working right now and contributing to our productivity.

IAM kept awake because I’m told stories everyday about how FAs who would love to be working are out on OJIs because of our "enhanced" bins and galley reconfigurations.

IAM kept awake because when a great FA goes through a hard time, well-meaning FSMs strip them of their purser quals and can’t help them because they’re more afraid of keeping their own jobs than helping the members of their "team."

IAM kept awake when a FA texts me at 8 AM on a Saturday morning asking me if reporting an OJI will get her fired.

IAM kept awake at night when a FA commits suicide while they’re out sick and being harassed by a third party called Sedgewick.

IAM kept awake because FAs are afraid to stand up for themselves and sign union cards; NOT because they don’t want representation, but because they think you’ll fire them if you find out.

So, how about we ALL get some good sleep and work TOGETHER, union and management, to find some thoughtful, reasonable and honest fixes to our problems that work for all of us.

Upper level executives informed base management to employ tactics designed to influence us not to support unionization.

Don't fall for it.

Our right to form a union is protected under federal law. Don't be scared. We have a right to organize and Delta management is prohibited from interfering with our efforts to form a union.

Delta management doesn't want to talk about why they haven't announced our pay increases for next year. Why our health insurance premiums keep rising. Why we don't have a secure pension plan. Why we don't have the right to a fair process when disciplined or terminated.

That's what we should demand Delta management talk about.

The only way to talk about those things is to unionize and negotiate a legally binding contract.

If you haven't signed a card yet, or if your card is expired, request one here and we'll mail it out to you.

If you feel that Delta management has interfered with your federally protected right to form a union click here

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Delta Air Lines today announced $1.2 billion in net income on revenue of $11 billion. Delta’s passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased by 1.9 percent and management expects PRASM to increase next quarter.

But management is setting the stage for another inadequate wage increase for 2018, warning of higher fuel costs pressuring profit margins, and claiming ongoing impacts from natural disasters.

In 2018, Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants’ top of scale wage rate will rise to approximately $73 per hour, roughly 14 percent higher than Delta’s Flight Attendants. Delta is the most profitable carrier in the industry and Delta Flight Attendants are the most productive. We deserve industry best wages, plain and simple.

The IAM-Delta campaign forced the recent profit sharing reinstatement. We now demand industry-leading pay. We deserve that respect.

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Almost 100 IAM-Delta Flight Attendant activists met this week in MSP and DTW to discuss plans and specific strategies to obtain the remaining amount of IAM election authorization cards (a-cards) to file for a representation election.

“The meetings were very well attended and we got a lot of work done,” said Delta Flight Attendant and MSP Base Lead Tammy Rustad. “I call on all Delta Flight Attendants, from every base, who want the right to vote to form a union to get their cards in. The time is now.”

Five IAM International Representatives also joined the Delta Flight Attendants and reiterated the IAM’s support, solidarity and resources to get the job done.

“The IAM has never wavered in its support of our movement to form a union, said Delta Flight Attendant and DTW Base Lead Victoria Daleo. The IAM has been at our side for over four years now and is fully committed to helping us reach our goals,” “All we have to do is sign a card, get a vote and vote YES. It’s up to us and we CAN and WILL do this.”

Additional planning meetings are scheduled in New York on October 18th, Atlanta on Novemeber 7th, Boston on November 9th and Los Angeles on November 14th. The schedule for other bases is in development.

For more information on the IAM-Delta campaign, visit our website.

If you need to sign, or renew, your IAM card, click here and the IAM will send one out to you.

Remember, cards are only valid for one year. If you are unsure if your card is valid, request a new one.

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The IAM-Delta campaign has continually stated that any cut to the Delta Flight Attendants profit sharing plan was wrong. Since 2013, Delta has cut our profit sharing plan, transferring hundreds of millions of dollars from us to Delta. The reason Delta could cut our plan is because it isn’t protected by a legally binding contract.

Delta Air Lines today announced that effective October 1, 2017 they will return to one common profit sharing plan for all Delta employees, which will increase our profit sharing pool. We look forward to Delta releasing the details of our new plan.

Delta didn't initiate this change because they felt it was the right thing to do. They did this because our IAM-Delta campaign has pressured them for over five years to improve our profession. Delta is seeing the growth in our campaign and our strong unified voice. They are cognizant of the power of one undivided message and know each day our voice is becoming louder and stronger!

Today, we can celebrate a well-deserved gain, but the real victory is when we can negotiate improvements like profit sharing into an IAM contract.

Be proud IAM-Delta Activists. Be proud of our movement every day. Imagine what we could do when we gain collective bargaining rights. Imagine how we could improve our profession, our airline.

We must continue to be ONE, and by doing so, we will continue to be EMPOWERED!

Sign a Card Today!

Claim Your Wings!

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General Vice President Sito Pantoja today issued the following statement on the anniversary of 9/11:

Sisters and Brothers, today marks the sixteenth anniversary of the heinous terrorist attacks on our country. Each year, we honor and pay tribute to the heroes we lost on that fateful day. We respectfully recall those who were most directly affected by this tragedy—those who were injured, perished or lost loved ones. We remember the selfless first responders—firefighters, police, emergency workers, and other courageous people—who risked, and many times, lost their lives in their brave efforts to save others. Let us not forget the cabin crew members, the aviation industry’s frontline, who also lost their lives.

The IAM lost three heroic members that day, United Airlines Customer Service employees Marianne McFarland and Jesus Sanchez who were onboard United 175 and IAM Organizer and New York City Firefighter Keith Maynard who died in the World Trade Center collapse.

Let us take some time today to remember and honor our fallen heroes. It is also a day to champion the work hundreds of thousands of Machinists do each and every day in making our country safer and stronger.

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You know what’s so totally random? Pretty much everything around here.

Will two absences trigger a documented warning? Three? Maybe it’s one. Like everything else, it depends. On the FSM’s record, on the time of year, on who you know.

Without a contract, inconsistency is the rule, not the exception.

Every IAM contract defines a consistent, progressive disciplinary process and grievance procedure. If you’re treated unfairly, your IAM rep files a grievance and the company is required to respond. If that response is unsatisfactory, an independent arbitrator can compel management to make you whole and purge your record.

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General Vice President Sito Pantoja issued the following statement regarding Hurricane Harvey:

“The IAM stands with our sisters and brothers in Texas and Louisiana who are suffering from the catastrophic flooding caused by this once in a lifetime hurricane. The IAM will mobilize disaster relief efforts and employee assistance to aid IAM members in need and work with IAM-represented employers in the region to ensure that all employees are treated fairly during this event. Our hearts go out to those who have lost family members, friends and property due this the storm and we will be right by your side every step of the way.”

IAM members who have suffered a loss, please contact your local lodge representatives for more information regarding the IAM’s disaster relief program.

Academic research indicates that approximately 20,000 toxic fume events have occurred during the past 10 years - an average of five each day.

“The IAM commends Senators Blumenthal, Feinstein and Markey for introducing legislation that will help ensure the safety of the passengers and crew from the dangers of toxic air,” said Transportation GVP Sito Pantoja.

District 142 President Dave Supplee, an FAA-licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician, met with Senator Blumenthal’s staff to provide technical help as they drafted the bill.

The Cabin Safety Act aims to make the cabin air on airplanes safer through multiple steps such as:

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Late last year, IAM Legislative Director Hasan Solomon and myself met with staff of Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal. Senator Blumenthal had several constituents who thought they had been exposed to contaminated cabin air and the Senator asked the Machinists Union to explain how that happens and what needs to be done to protect the flying public from this hazard.

As a result of the meeting, Senator Blumenthal introduced Senate Bill S.1405, Cabin Air Safety Act of 2017. This is part of the FAA Reauthorization bill and needs to be approved on the Senate floor. Hopefully, this will be part of the FAA bill in the final form will include all the items in Senator Blumenthal's bill.

The Senator's bill includes educating pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance technicians and airport first responders on how to respond to incidents on board aircraft involving smoke or fumes. It will require all events to be reported to the FAA. It will provide funding for research to develop techniques to monitor bleed air quality and finally, require a report on the feasibility and efficacy of certification and installation of systems to evaluate bleed air quality.

For many years, we have been aware there is a danger with the cabin air in commercial aircraft. The IAM has helped fund independent studies on the issue, and I have served as an expert witness in lawsuits filed by flight attendants who contracted serious, debilitating illness as a result of contaminated cabin air. But this is the first time the federal government has acknowledged this being an issue and we thank the Senator for taking this fight on!

The health of our flight attendants, flight crews and maintenance workers, as well as passengers, are at risk. This is the first step in getting this issue brought to the forefront and get solutions on fixing the problem of contaminated cabin air for everyone.

The amendment to the FAA bill passed in the Commerce Committee last week. We need all our members to urge their Senators to oppose any attempt to remove or weaken this provision when the FAA bill comes up for a Senate floor vote.

Fraternally,

David Supplee

President

IAM District 142

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The IAM supports and sympathizes with all Flight Attendants affected by last night’s traumatic incident on Delta Flight 129. The IAM will continue fighting for safety improvements for not only its members, but for all workers. There needs to be zero tolerance for such violent and criminal behavior against Flight Attendants.

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The House Transportation Committee today will be considering an FAA Reauthorization Bill that directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise current rules for flight attendant rest. The bill would require them to be given a rest period of at least 10 uninterrupted hours.

This important safety change replaces the current eight-hour rest period. The bill would also require airlines to submit to regulators fatigue risk management plans for attendants.

“Flight Attendants have a crucial and often life-saving job responsibility,” said GVP Sito Pantoja. “The inclusion of the ten-hour rest rule in this bill is a step towards ensuring that Flight Attendants are properly prepared to do their jobs.”

The IAM has been aggressively lobbying Congress to adopt this ten-hour rule for years, meeting with lawmakers from both parties and holding rallies on Capitol Hill.

“The IAM places a great deal of importance on the safety and well-being of both flight attendants and passengers,” said GVP Pantoja. “I congratulate our legislative team and our members for working hard and pushing for this legislation change.”

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The story below illustrates how union members express their collective voice and hold their employer accountable to the agreements they make.

IAM members will be receiving approximately $1.5 million as a result of the IAM's successful arbitration against Alaska Airlines regarding HMO coverage. In its December 20, 2016 Order, the IAM-Alaska System Board of Adjustment, through Arbitrator John LaRocco, ordered Alaska to cease and desist from violating its contractual obligation to contribute the "same amount" to its HMO plans as it does for the same tier of coverage for PPO plans.

"This arbitration victory demonstrates the importance of filing grievances and fighting diligently for our members, said GVP Sito Pantoja. "I thank our District 142 representatives and, in particular, LAX Alaska member Rachael Ackerman for filing the grievance that is benefiting thousands of our members who will receive this award."

Alaska will make these payments to all affected employees within 45 days, by August 7, 2017.

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Hundreds of IAM members this week descended on Washington D.C. at one of the the largest legislative conferences in organized labor. IAM members fanned out on Capitol Hill and met with lawmakers from both parties and pressed for legislation that would better the lives of workers and their families.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, a stalwart of labor and workers’ rights, electrified the delegates when he emphasized the vital importance of the IAM-Delta campaign to all workers in the United States.

Flight Attendants and Customer Service Agents (CSAs) lobbied Congress to adopt a 10-hour minimum rest requirement for flight attendants and pushed Congress to adopt an "Employee Assult Prevention and Response Plan." This plan would include guidelines for CSAs should they encounter violent behavior.

The IAM’s Legislative Department Director, Hasan Solomon, updated conference delegates on the status of important legislation and the union’s legislative strategies for the 115th Congress. International President Bob Martinez Jr. gave the keynote address and stressed the importance of IAM’s resolve in the face of many attacks on organized labor and thanked delegates for their continued hard work back in their home states.

IAM delegates concluded the week with the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) conference. The MNPL was created in 1947 to allow IAM members to gather individual contributions, coordinate political activity, and elect candidates who support IAM members and their families. It’s important to note that any money from the MNPL given to candidates for political office comes from IAM member donations and NOT from union dues.

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“In spite of these achievements, there is much work yet to be done,” said GVP Pantoja. “We cannot allow ExpressJet to continue delaying a fair agreement for our Flight Attendants, and we will redouble our efforts to finally organize Delta flight attendants and ground workers and JetBlue ground staff. I look forward to celebrating the successful conclusion of these campaigns at our next Transportation Conference.”

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The IAM Transportation Department sends its support to the Delta Flight Attendants who were stranded in terminals throughout the country this past week. Delta’s operational breakdown, and subsequent abandonment of its Flight Attendants, is further proof of the importance of having a union contract. Without the protection a union contract affords, the safety and well-being of flight attendants will continue to be neglected by Delta.

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The mere fact that Delta HAS an advocacy policy says a lot. Its very existence quantifies that Delta management will do everything possible to prevent us from advocating! (Read about your federal rights here)

We CAN have IAM bag tags in non-work areas.

We CAN wear an IAM pin in the same places a service pin is approved.

We CAN distribute materials, such as cards, flyers, and pins.

We CAN discuss representation, our IAM card drive, working conditions, profit sharing cuts, even real-life examples of management's prejudice against pro-union employees, as long as those conversations don't disrupt the operation.

The hotel lobby, bar, restaurant, and any mode of transportation to and from those places.

All are non-work areas!!

FSMs have trouble enforcing the intentionally confusing policy. We feel for them! Most are not lawyers or third-party persuaders. They're just coworkers trying to defend the indefensible.

Comply with all management requests regarding advocacy — even if you believe that request is unjustified — noting the date, time, exact location, and manager's full name. Then file an online interference report during your next non-work downtime!

Talking about IAM is not soliciting. Wearing a pin is not an advocacy activity. Deliberating about working conditions, suppression, and our history is called educating, and it is permitted EVERYWHERE it doesn't disrupt the operation.

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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today submitted comments regarding the DOT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning the “protection of passengers from being unwillingly exposed to inflight voice calls.” The DOT seeks comment on whether to prohibit airlines from allowing passengers to make voice calls from wireless mobile devices on domestic and/or international flights and its proposal to require the sellers of air transportation to provide adequate advance notice to passengers if the carrier operating the flight allows voice calls on wireless mobile devices.

“Flight attendants already have the great responsibility of securing the safety of the flying public,” said General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “They are the last line of security onboard an aircraft, making their jobs harder is dangerous and wrongheaded.”

The IAM asked the DOT to consider the stress and distractions flight attendants would undoubtedly encounter by permitting inflight voice calls. It’s inevitable that flight attendants will have to neutralize cabin situations caused by hostility between passengers stemming from inflight voice calls. The use of inflight cell phones may also pose additional security risks. Potentially, terrorists aboard a single or multiple aircrafts could use this new capability to communicate with each other about the movement and vulnerability of crew members or to even initiate a coordinated attack.